Fico: Cadastre hacking attack was not accidental, linked to efforts to overwhelm government

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has claimed that the recent cyberattack on the country’s land register system was not incidental but was instead linked to broader attempts to destabilize the government. In a video statement shared on social media on Wednesday, Fico said the January 5 hacking attack against the central cadastral system and district office departments was exploited by anti-government media and the opposition to spread alarm and create societal unrest.

According to Fico, the attack coincided with the publication of plans to occupy government buildings and disrupt the administration’s operations. “They continue to spread alarmist messages about the cadastre, suggesting that people may lose their properties,” he said.

Fico emphasized that authorities are actively working on two fronts—first, to prevent similar cyberattacks in the future, and second, to gradually restore public access to cadastral information and services. However, he acknowledged that the process takes time.

By February 12, a total of 74 cadastral offices across Slovakia had resumed operations, with one department still functioning in a limited capacity. Due to the ongoing forensic analysis of the system by law enforcement agencies, citizens currently need to visit cadastral offices in person to access services. The prime minister noted that a key component of the cadastral information system—previously accessible remotely—remains under investigation.

To mitigate the impact, the government launched a backup system called CICA on January 22, which provides basic information on title deeds. “In the first few hours of operation, this system recorded more than four million requests. It has now stabilized,” Fico said.

Authorities expect full online access to current title deeds to be restored by the end of February. Further, Fico announced that by mid-March, cadastral services for banks and notaries will be fully operational, followed by services for cities and municipalities, enabling tax return verifications.

The government continues to investigate the hacking incident and implement measures to enhance cybersecurity, while working to restore normal cadastral operations for the public and key institutions.

Source: SITA
Photo: Wikipedia